Paris In The Springtime (Part Deux)

Almost there!

67 km to go (about 40 miles)

Now, I am not going to lie, traveling with a toddler can be challenging. But we really had a great time--and it rained less than forecasted!  

Deep thoughts one of the crosswalks near the Arc de Triomphe

Arriving in Paris!

Arc de Triomphe via the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, en route to our hotel

We arrived Saturday just after noon and got right to the business of seeing the sights. First up, the Arc de Triomphe and a boat tour on the River Siene. The boat tour was fun for Nate and a great way to get a lay of the land. Then we leisurely perused the Tuileries Garden and the Place de Concorde. We made our way back down the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, turned at the Arc and found a quaint restaurant for dinner. 

Let the sightseeing begin 

Eiffel Tower view from the River Siene

At the garden with the obelsik at the Place de Concorde in the distance

Our Saturday night dinner spot. We loved how all the seating faced "out." So much to see!

Armed with our museum pass, we started our Sunday morning with Musee Louvre. We artfully timed our arrival and didn't have to wait in a single line. A small crowd was gathered in front of the Mona Lisa, but I had read that the crowd becomes so large that viewing the work is next to impossible, so I was thankful that we easily got to view the one of the most famous pieces of art in the whole world up close with our own eyes. 

On the way to Musee Louvre (we had to finish our coffee before they allowed us in the cab)

Panoramic of Musee Louvre

The one and only Mona Lisa

Mommy and Nath selfie 

Preggy taking a little break

My boys at the Venus de Milo

While Kyle and I were fascinated by the many sculptures of Athena as well as the Sphinx at the Louvre (and, yes, the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo), Nath was more interested in ambulances and anything else within earshot that had a siren. He made friends wherever we went and exchanged many, many waves with the open air bus tours that frequent the city. 

Lunch just around the corner from the Eiffel Tower with Natey giving me a fake mustache with my hair 

Natey learning the art of eating escargot. "Snails!" he kept saying.  The food here was delicious. I will be back for their french onion soup!

Showing his dance moves at the Eiffel Tower park

Boogie-Oogie-Oogie

Happy 

Kisses at the Eiffel Tower

Crocketts 

Yay, Paris!

Our next stop was the Trocadèro just across the Siene, but not before we took a ride on the carousel. Nathan sat in no less than five chairs before he settled on one--and that's only because the carousel started moving. 

Let's go!

Here comes the rain

The tower from the Trocadèro

We walked a lot on Sunday, and in the late afternoon the rain really started to fall. We made reservations at our hotel restaurant and stayed in for a quiet dry, evening. Well, mostly dry...

Scrub a dub dub

Monday we spent the morning at the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral.  (Unfortunately, just one day later, someone would come here and commit suicide in protest to recently passed "marriage for all" law in France). 

Good morning, boys! 

A service was just concluding as we visited

Notre Dame

The rain and wind really started after this, so we grabbed a cab back to the hotel and and checked out. Thanks, in part, to the autobahn, we were home in five hours! What a weekend--Merci, paris!

:) sbc

PS---I know this is a long blog, sorry, but one more thing. As some of you know, the television programming in Korea left something to be desired (thank goodness for slingbox). As such, there are many, many movies that I have seen no less than 20 times (not kidding, and that is likely a low estimate)...one of my favorites that the Koreans seem to have stuck on repeat is Bourne Identity (and Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum).  I tried to find you the you tube clip, with no luck. Anyway, in the movie Jason Bourne demands a meeting at Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge crossing the Siene in Paris.  You kinda "had to be there," but imagine my delight as we arrived at Pont Neuf. 

"5PM, Pont Neuf. Come alone. Take off your jacket and face east. I will redial this number."

:)sbc

Paris In The Springtime (Part 1)

Another German holiday? Yes, please!

To celebrate Mother's Day, the end of Kyle's very-big-sress work week and Natey's upcoming birthday, we planned a long weekend in Paris. 

The first sign for Paris!

We split the five hour drive and stayed Friday night at the lovely Chateau des Monthairons, an old castle on a 35 acre estate on the Meuse River near Verdun, France. It was in the middle of nowhere and absolutely perfect. 

In the breakfast room. Yes, the croissants were as delicious as you would imagine they would be.

Brushing our teeth before we check out 

These boys make my heart skip a beat

There's our room--the window at the tippy top between the two towers

Chateau entrance 

Morning dew on the web

Next stop, The City of Lights!

:)sbc

Perfect 20/20 Vision

20 weeks pregnant/20 weeks to go! 

We are happy to report that Baby C, Junior, is hitting all his or her marks and measurements just as they should at week 20. 

Today when we peeked in on him-or-her, he-or-she was sucking their thumb and had their legs crossed. A leisurely Tuesday.

We saw fingers and toes, tibias and fibulas, femurs and ulnas and a beautiful, four chambered, beating heart. When I commented on how much the baby has changed from the 16 week ultrasound, Dr. Vollman said, "Oh yes, we're done building and now onto the business of growing."

We attempted a 3D picture, but BCJr was "hiding" on Dr. Vollman. We'll try again at 24 weeks. 

:) sbc

Mommy-Mum-Momma-Mom

Yay for Moms!  Happy Mother's Day!

I love being a Momma and it's because I have sisters and sisters-in-law, lots of friends and my own mother and mother-in-law that show me how it's done and help me along the way. 

Thanks to all of you Moms and StepMoms out there--you make the world a better place, one kid at a time. (Even when it feels like this):

Nath's creation at Kindergarten--with a little help, he even glued the hearts on 
(I told you he loves to line things up!)

Awwww...These homemade crafts melt my heart

Ascension Day is also known as Father's Day in this part of Germany, so Kyle got a little craft of his own from Natey Wi.  Yes, I cried when I read the little passage. Gotta love these hormones.

:-)

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

:) sbc

Love Thy Neighbor

Thursday was Ascension Day, a public holiday in Germany. With the exception of restaurants opening later in the day, everything was closed. The Crocketts ascended (get it?) to the castle, only to learn that it, too, was closed. 

Around the dinner hour, we walked to a Lebanese restaurant we like for take out. We finished our nice walk as the weather began to cool and Natey's bedtime upon us. 

At our front door, Kyle reached into his pocket, "Mother $%&^@*" 

We had the wrong set of keys. We were locked out. 

Locked out, I remind you, 'mit ein bissien Deutsch' (with a little German), several open but out-of-reach windows, an iphone, some shawarmas getting colder by the second and no diapers.

After Kyle scaled the house (seriously, I didn't record it with my phone because I was sure I was going to capture a severe injury on video, but it was impressive), got to the garage roof to jump down on the other side into our garden, he opened the garage and began to use whatever tools he could find to manipulate any opening he could reach. An hour passed, without success. 

Finally, I volunteered to go to the next door neighbor's house and ask for help. On a holiday. Past the dinner/visiting hour. 

We were sure we could get in the upstairs bathroom window with a tall enough ladder. I googled, "Do you have a ladder, please."  Actually, I knew the 'do you have' part...and the word for ladder is 'leiter.'

I was sure this little episode was going to solidify our standing in the neighborhood as the obnoxious Americans, but we were in need.  

Knock, knock. 

Our neighbor was not in the middle of preparing dinner. 
She was in the middle of preparing dinner and several special dishes for her husband's birthday the next day. 

Why didn't I google, "I am sorry. I am so, so, so sorry?'

If neighbors were a lottery, we won the jackpot. She was very understanding and spoke pretty good english. She revealed that they own the flower shop in the city center on the other side of the park (we walk by it nearly everyday) and promptly called her husband to bring home a tall ladder. 

'Neighbor'hood Store

While we waited for him to call back and confirm he had the ladder at the store, she invited me in, offered me a drink, and showed me their downstairs which they've converted into a little apartment they rent out, and offered it to me in case we had guests overflowing. 

I returned to Nathan and Kyle with my news that help was on the way. She insisted that we come back inside to keep the baby warm and offered us dinner. She chatted with Natey, who was thankfully all smiles.

All smiles (but in need of a hair cut)

She retreated behind a closed door and emerged with a little children's book and began to read to him and insisted we sit down. 

Her spouse arrived with said ladder and, viola, we were in our house! 

We thanked them and apologized a million times and they said, "Kein problem (no problem)." She even gave Nathan the little book as a gift. 

I am so thankful for our neighbors!

This little thank you note and gift is on its way next door...

:) sbc

Like Taking a Puppy to the Park

Natey is the newest member of Crazy Caterpillars, a bilingual kindergarten for kids about his age up to three years old.  

It's just a short jaunt to and from.  On the way to school, there is much hand holding (which, who am I kidding, sometimes includes coming close to dragging) to get there directly without picking up each and every leaf/stone/wrapper/pine cone. 

On the way home, we take our sweet time, meeting lots of friends along the way. Nathan is a little flirt (wonder where he gets that) and the leisurely ladies in the park love to chat him up and make him smile. It's like taking a puppy to the park. 

First stop, the fountain. The building in the background is a lovely restaurant with a large, inviting patio.  

Come on in, the water's fine! (Can you see the castle in the distance?)

Checking out some nooks and crannies behind a seating area.

Wow, this is a big tree.

Ready, set go!

Being "all boy," he runs for the nearest pile of dirt...

Dirt!
Right after this, he picked up two handfuls and threw them, mostly in my face and mouth.
We are working on the throwing thing. Ugh. 

Picking "flowers" 

Lining up his harvest--this kid LOVES to put things in a line/row!

Show me the way to go home! Actually, this is not the way home.
The way home is behind me, but hey, it's a walk in the park after all! 

Bye bye, Momma.

And--last but not least--the puppy in the park.
This dog was barely interested in Nathan's criss crossing the park screaming with delight.
He sat, and sat...and sat. Once in a while he would look at his Mom
(in the distance on the bench beyond the weeping tree, out of sight).
What a good dog! 

:) sbc